1.
The Discourse on the Seven Stations of Consciousness
44.
"There are, monks, these seven stations of consciousness.
Which are the seven?
There are, monks, beings different in body and different in perception, just as human beings, some gods, and some beings in states of misfortune.
This is the first station of consciousness.
"There are, monks, beings different in body and identical in perception, just as the gods of Brahmā's retinue who are first reborn. This is the second station of consciousness.
"There are, monks, beings identical in body and different in perception, just as the radiant gods. This is the third station of consciousness.
"There are, monks, beings identical in body and identical in perception, just as the gods of streaming radiance. This is the fourth station of consciousness.
"There are, monks, beings who, with the complete transcendence of perceptions of form, with the passing away of perceptions of sensory impingement, with inattention to perceptions of diversity, aware that 'space is infinite,' have reached the plane of infinite space. This is the fifth station of consciousness.
"There are, monks, beings who, having completely transcended the plane of infinite space, aware that 'consciousness is infinite,' have reached the plane of infinite consciousness. This is the sixth station of consciousness.
"There are, monks, beings who, having completely transcended the plane of infinite consciousness, aware that 'there is nothing,' have reached the plane of nothingness. This is the seventh station of consciousness. These, monks, are the seven stations of consciousness." The first.